Drug Discovery

We produce your membrane proteins within hours and with high flexibility. Using cell-free protein synthesis, we generate difficult-to-express targets such as GPCRs and multipass ion channels, as well as transporters and pore-forming toxins. We utilize lysates from Sf21, HEK, CHO oder E. coli cells.

This high throughput platform is ideal for rapid prototyping: We compare solubilization, lipid composition, and cofactors in parallel and deliver an integrated process through to functional characterization – fast, scalable, and customized for your application.

Your Benefits

• Complete overall process with maximum flexibility and short synthesis cycles: every step from lysate through synthesis & modification to functional testing can be individually adapted, delivering membrane proteins within hours
• Embedding into vesicles, nanodiscs, or SMALPs ensures correct folding and functional activity
• Position-specific modifications, PTMs, and diverse labeling provide tailored tools for assays, screening, and structural biology

Our Offers

• We perform the cell-free production of your membrane proteins – from template design through expression to analytics within hours.
• We provide embedding and modifications: cotranslational embedding into microsomes/vesicles, nanodiscs or SMALPs, as well as position-specific modifications, PTMs, and diverse labeling options.
• We design your high-throughput workflow: for parallel comparison of lipid environments, detergents, and additives with subsequent functional characterization (ligand binding, activity, electrophysiology) – including data reporting, QC, and integration into your processes.
• We screen mutants, e.g. for the development of nanopores for biotechnological detection processes.
• We analyze membrane integrity of toxic pores in cells and characterize their hemolytic effect.

Further information is available on our technology webpages:

• Cell-fee and Cell-based Protein Syntheses
• Protein Labeling and Modification

We synthesize your entire antibody library or template using cell-free protein synthesis - from design to the final antibody format (e.g. IgG, scFv, VHH). Mono- or multispecific formats are possible.

Do you require modifications? We label your antibody formats with fluorophores for diagnostics or with drugs to create antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). We tailor the production and development process to your requirements.

If you do not wish to link a classical active compound to your ADCs, we are able to produce protein-based toxins in-house and bind them to the antibody. We develop scalable solutions specifically tailored to your needs as a pharmaceutical or biotechnological partner.

Your Benefits

• End-to-end process with maximum flexibility: each step from lysate through synthesis & modification to functional test can be customized
• High throughput compatible: libraries can be synthesized quickly, in parallel, and reproducibly
• No purification needed: direct use of synthesis products for characterization
• Broad format portfolio: IgG, scFv, VHH/Nanobodies; mono-, bi- and multispecific antibodies

Our Offers

• We offer the cell-free production of your antibodies in all relevant formats – from IgG through scFv to VHH/Nanobodies, including mono-, bi- and multispecific designs.
• Use our end-to-end service: construct design, expression, precise antibody modifications (e.g. fluorophores, linkers/payloads), and functional testing per your specifications.
• Discover the optimal antibody for your application! We provide structured format comparison with data-based prioritization to rapidly identify the best candidates for your diagnostic or therapeutic applications

Further information is available on our technology webpages:

• Antibody Technologies

We offer rapid, parallelizable and flexibly adaptable synthesis of toxic and viral proteins in cell-free systems, without requiring genetically modified organisms.

We develop customized production processes for a wide range of toxins – such as proteins from animal venoms, pore-forming toxins, superantigens, or AB toxins – and perform their functional characterization in terms of hemolysis, pore formation, and cellular toxicity to optimize them for diagnostic uses, antibody or antidote tests, and assay development. 

Furthermore, we support the development of therapeutic approaches, for example targeted toxins, and provide platforms for screening therapeutic inhibitors against toxins or viral proteins and testing virus-like particles. All projects are conducted under strict adherence to relevant safety and regulatory requirements.

Your Benefits

• Parallelized synthesis of various toxins and mutants without GMO generation: process coverage from lysate through synthesis and modification to functional testing.
• Rapid identification of therapeutic efficacy: scalable antidote and inhibitor screenings
• Characterization of novel or mutated proteins: by incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine, no detection antibodies are needed to detect toxins.

Our Offers

• We offer cell-free production of your toxins and viral proteins – from template design through expression to analytics in Sf21, HEK, K562, CHO or E. coli lysates within hours. 
• We support research and use of viral proteins – vfrom protein characterization through inhibitor screening to VLP development.
• We provide an individualized full process: custom template creation and synthesis conditions, functional characterization (e.g. Identifying the active center, hemolysis, electrophysiology, cellular toxicity), and downstream application with the possibility of parallel high-throughput screening.

Further information is available on our technology webpages:

• Cell-fee and Cell-based Protein Syntheses

We rapidly identify promising drug candidates from your unformulated and formulated mRNA (lipid nanoparticles, LNPs). Through a cell-free, scalable system, our screening of your mRNA drug candidates is time-efficient. The use of ¹⁴C-labeled amino acids enables detection of the translation product while maintaining confidentiality without antibodies. In combination with cell-based assays, we analyze translation efficiencies, drug properties, specificity and the efficacy of mRNA.

Your Benefits

• High-throughput compatible process: fast and efficient testing of your mRNA for translation capability, stability, specificity, and batch-to-batch variation
• Confidentiality and GLP compliance: In vitro translation under GLP conditions and precise ¹⁴C-based analytics enables confidentiality of your RNA sequences
• Comparison of unformulated and formulated mRNA (LNPs) and analysis of lipid influences

Our Offers

• We provide a screening of translation efficiency for unformulated and formulated mRNAs (LNPs) in cell-free and cell-based systems, including direct comparison of cell-free translation with cell-based transfection.
• In a cell-free system, we can test your mRNAs and LNPs for translation efficiency at the smallest scale.
• We perform in vitro translation assays under GLP conditions for extended quality control.
• We offer comprehensive characterization from qualitative protein analytics to solubility, specificity, and stability of mRNA to cell-based efficacy testing, coupling mRNA analytics with instrumental analyses such as HPLC.
• For you, we test in specific cell assays uptake, endosomal escape, cell interactions, or functionality of the translated target protein from your mRNA.

Further information is available on our technology webpages

• Cell-fee and Cell-based Protein Syntheses
• Cell Culture Service

Reliable in vitro models for metabolism are key to advancing drug candidates and ensuring their safety. Our technology platform – composed of cell-based, cell-free and analytical methods – offers modular and scalable solutions for partners in the research-based pharmaceutical industry seeking to expand their existing ADME/DMPK workflows with more precise metabolism systems.

Your Benefits

• Early and precise identification of toxic metabolites
• Analysis of drug interactions at the metabolism level to identify potential drug–drug interactions
• Serum-free suspension & cell-free synthesis systems reduce production and purification effort
• Biocatalytic syntheses provide easy access to reference metabolites
• 3R contribution: precise and meaningful in vitro models reduce the need for animal experiments

Our Offers 

• We use primary, primary-like, and cell-line based human in vitro liver models for comprehensive metabolism analyses and efficacy and toxicity studies.
• Our mono-CYP cells and microsomes are custom-manufactured and specifically used to identify CYP-specific metabolic profiles of drug candidates.
• We develop targeted, biocatalytic syntheses of reference metabolites for further investigations.
• We design complex metabolism systems (e.g. multi-CYP cascades) for individualized applications.

Further information is available on our technology webpages

• Cell line development (in progress)
• Biocatalytic oxyfunktionalization (in German)
• Cell-free and cell-based protein synthesis
• Microphysiological systems (in German)

We improve the efficiency of drug discovery by the implementation of adaptable and automated microphysiological systems. These systems enable precise and meaningful drug screening that considers therapeutic and dose-dependent pharmacodynamics.

Currently available for screening are our liver, tumor, and skin models, which are integrated in both 3D cultures and microphysiological systems. These models can also be individually adapted and expanded to optimally meet specific research needs.

Your Benefits

• Shortening time-to-market through accelerated development processes
• Adaptable systems via in-house rapid prototyping for design and functional tests
• Meaningful results through physiological 3D cell models
• Advanced alternatives to animal experiments, upholding ethical standards
• Stable real-time monitoring for detailed analysis of cell metabolism and insights into mode of action

Our Offer

• We design tailored microphysiological systems that are adapted to your individual research needs.
• We specifically adapt cell models to simulate physiological conditions.
• Use our contract measurement services, where we analyze your specific parameters and provide comprehensive data
• On demand, we integrate sensors to capture relevant data in real time and maximize the quality of your experiments.

Further information is available on our technology webpages

• Microphysiological Systems (in German)
• Cell line development (in progress)